Q2 Franchise Push
Shipley Donuts signed four franchise agreements in the second quarter of 2026 to develop nine new shops, extending the Houston-based chain's footprint into the Midwest, Southeast, and beyond its Texas home base. The deals include three shops in Cincinnati with Kolache Co. LLC, two in Raleigh, North Carolina, with Plexus Raleigh LLC, and three in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with Dough Pokes LLC. A fourth agreement — the brand's first nonprofit franchise partnership — will bring a location to South Dallas.
The Q2 signings followed a busy first half that already put new Shipley units on the map in El Paso, Texas (March), Bossier City, Louisiana (May), and Vienna, Virginia (June). The chain now operates more than 390 franchised and company-owned restaurants across 13 states and is approaching its 90th anniversary in September 2026. "The first half of 2026 has been one of the strongest growth periods for Shipley Donuts," said Flynn Dekker, CEO of Shipley Donuts, citing franchise development, menu innovation, and the nonprofit partnership as standout milestones.
Catering Platform & Menu Moves
On the operations side, Shipley launched a dedicated online catering platform during Q2, now live at more than 350 locations for pickup or delivery. The platform offers custom bundles, coffee, and mini kolaches — a bite-sized format that debuted as a limited-time item in late Q1 before earning a permanent spot on the catering menu. For foodservice operators watching emerging catering strategies in QSR and fast-casual, the move signals how legacy donut brands are repositioning for higher-ticket group occasions, targeting meeting planners, event hosts, and families who need a savory, portable option.
Limited-time promotions also drove traffic in the quarter: letter-shaped "MOM" donuts for Mother's Day and the return of "Free Donut Fridays" throughout National Donut Month in June, paired with a rewards-member challenge offering exclusive merchandise.
Industry Recognition
Shipley's expansion pace earned back-to-back recognition from two major industry trackers. The chain ranked No. 77 on the 2026 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list — its third consecutive appearance — and No. 142 on the Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurants list for the second straight year. It also holds the No. 134 spot on Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500, ranked No. 1 in its donut category.
For operators and multi-unit franchisees exploring fast-casual franchise development trends, Shipley's geographic push into the Midwest and Carolinas illustrates how regional QSR brands with deep product differentiation — in this case, fresh handmade kolaches alongside donuts — are using category exclusivity to recruit franchisees in under-penetrated markets. Franchise opportunities are actively available throughout the South, Southeast, and Midwest, according to the company.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
